Reader: Professional protesting now a career?

Dear Editor:
Let me get this straight. The president issues an executive order on Friday January 27 and on Saturday January 28, less than 24 hours later, there are “spontaneous protests” in airports across the country? Spontaneous, come on. Spontaneity is when you decide at 7:30 p.m. to go out for ice cream, or go to a movie, or hop on a plane and go to Vegas for a weekend. It is not showing up at airports across the country with signs in hand to protest a presidential order. Normally, most people, when irritated by a new law, order, or decision complain to their family or friends in casual conversation. I assume these are people who have a life, a job and are going about their daily business, working and caring for their family. Who are these protesters, that show up 24 hours after some incident, i.e. Ferguson, Mo., North Carolina, Wall Street and now airports across the country? Is being a professional protestor considered a career now? Will that be a course of study in colleges and universities? Or is it possible that there is now a class of people who are being paid to protest, rally, etc. because they are too lazy or stupid to do anything else?Jeff Przybyla

Braun buys Jimmy’s Ice HouseDear Editor:
At 61, I’ve lived long enough to see many institutions that I thought would be forever go, I found it interesting that the founder’s son has passed and his widow is selling. Probably wouldn’t happen if he were still alive.

With all the regulars, has anyone thought of approaching the sellers and ask if they came up with a group of investors, all the regulars chipping in, would they sell at the same price to them so they could save their hangout? If the manager and the staff were part of the partnership and stayed the business could go on as is.

If the place is profitable now, and they leave it as they love it there would be no renovation costs.

Just a thought.John

Dear Editor:
I’ve been going in to Jimmy’s since June of 1976, underage but Jimmy and I had an understanding. That’s just the way it was back then, if you were man enough to pay for your beer out of your pocket he would sell to you but you better never get out of hand! I’ve been around long enough to see all the changes and some were bad but most were for the better. Eric’s been one hell of an owner and he care’s about the customers, where ever he moves to I’m sure to be there! Thanks for all the memories.Paul Ecke

NFL creates boom for area businesses
Dear Editor:
I am glad to see that some local folk have benefited from the Super Bowl, especially after reading Lisa Falkenberg’s column in the Chronicle, which stated that officials estimate that the spending on the Super Bowl was $1.5 Billion, presumably, a large portion of it came from tax revenues. With the city in a giant pension hole, you would think that the Chronicle would be taking a closer look at this spending, but the press is simply not concerned. I know that I, and most taxpayers, didn’t see any benefit from this spending, but perhaps a few business owners will.Jason Hochman

Reader Interactions

Comments

To the letter writer pontificating about protestors across the country who are continuing to show visible support for those marginalized by 45’s policies. I am one of those protestors. I am a small business owner, a mom to 4 wonderful kids and I am engaged in my community. It’s easy, and indeed a privilege, for me to make a sign and go protest for a few hours on a weekend. It’s a civic right enshrined in our constitution that has been enjoyed by many for decades. It has even been known to effect policy. I can’t fathom why you would spread lies and disparage your fellow citizens who enjoy our nation’s freedoms.

I am an attorney who owns two businesses. I have long been an active advocate for the causes I care about, willing to put important work on hold to prioritize defending democracy and my belief in the constitution of the United States.

I know not everyone has the flexibility to drop everything and drive to Austin to testify in a committee hearing, or show up at noon downtown for a peaceful demonstration. I worked hard to build a life that would allow me to do those things, and I consider it a great privilege that I am able to live my values in that manner.

I value my citizenship and my rights as an American too dearly to require payment to stand up for them.

I wonder if Jeff Przybyla thinks the anti-Vietnam War protests that happened during his college days were driven by Potemkin protesters? History will show that, despite the lies being touted by establishment Republicans like Trump, Cruz, Cornyn, and their ilk, the uprisings in 2017 to defend bedrock American values represent a movement, not a moment.

To Jeff Przybyla. When people claim that there are paid protestors, others research for the facts. I am a retired history teacher, and I have time to be a fact checker. To date, I have found no evidence of professional protestors, nor have I found an article that reported such a thing — backing it up with proof. I do have email, facebook, and twitter. If I learn of an unfair or inhumane situation, I can respond within a couple of hours. I could have been at the local airport within less than 24 hours. And, yes, I would have made a sign before leaving. We have volunteer groups who have organized communication lists and resources to keep aware of problems and to communicate with our representatives in the government. Computers and smart phones have changed our world. Am I a paid protestor? No, but I am a determined citizen who values safety and respect for all the people. If that requires phone calls to my senator, emails to my president, and thank you notes to my congressman, then I will do that. Democracy requires passion and participation. But those people at the airports were not all retired. It was evening. People of all ages ended their long work days by going out to stand up for equality, justice, and freedom of religion. Dads had kids on their shoulders, students had backpacks and laptops for more communication, and retired folks like me stayed up late for this protest. Nobody paid for their presence. That kind of patriotism can not be bought.

To Jeff Przybyla. When people claim that there are paid protestors, others research for the facts. I am a retired history teacher, and I have time to be a fact checker. To date, I have found no evidence of professional protestors, nor have I found an article that reported such a thing — backing it up with proof. I do have email, facebook, and twitter. If I learn of an unfair or inhumane situation, I can respond within a couple of hours. I could have been at the local airport within less than 24 hours. And, yes, I would have made a sign before leaving. We have volunteer groups who have organized communication lists and resources to keep aware of problems and to communicate with our representatives in the government. Computers and smart phones have changed our world. Am I a paid protestor? No, but I am a determined citizen who values safety and respect for all the people. If that requires phone calls to my senator, emails to my president, and thank you notes to my congressman, then I will do that. Democracy requires passion and participation. But those people at the airports were not all retired. It was evening. People of all ages ended their long work days by going out to stand up for equality, justice, and freedom of religion. Dads had kids on their shoulders, students had backpacks and laptops for more communication, and retired folks like me stayed up late for this protest. Nobody paid for their presence. That kind of patriotism can not be bought.

To Jeff Przybyla. When people claim that there are paid protestors, others research for the facts. I am a retired history teacher, and I have time to be a fact checker. To date, I have found no evidence of professional protestors, nor have I found an article that reported such a thing — backing it up with proof. I do have email, facebook, and twitter. If I learn of an unfair or inhumane situation, I can respond within a couple of hours. I could have been at the local airport within less than 24 hours. And, yes, I would have made a sign before leaving. We have volunteer groups who have organized communication lists and resources to keep aware of problems and to communicate with our representatives in the government. Computers and smart phones have changed our world. Am I a paid protestor? No, but I am a determined citizen who values safety and respect for all the people. If that requires phone calls to my senator, emails to my president, and thank you notes to my congressman, then I will do that. Democracy requires passion and participation. But those people at the airports were not all retired. It was evening. People of all ages ended their long work days by going out to stand up for equality, justice, and freedom of religion. Dads had kids on their shoulders, students had backpacks and laptops for more communication, and retired folks like me stayed up late for this protest. Nobody paid for their presence. That kind of patriotism can not be bought.

I am a protestor. I am also an employee, a mother, a daughter whose parents are immigrants,a foster to a dog, a volunteer, a life long 77008/77018 resident, 3rd generation Houstonian, and a US citizen who is married to a 5th generation Texan. so while you sit back and drink your craft beer, I am exercising my right to peaceful protest when I see abuse and overreach of our Federal Govt. I am thankful to the people who have served in the military (thanks, FIL!) who have allowed me the continuous freedom to protest. And I’ll be damned if I sit idly by and watch freedom in this country disappear. May God bless us all!

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Perhaps in the past, people did just complain to their friends and family about politics, but many feel woke by the current political climate and have decided staying quiet or complaining around their dinner table is no longer viable. As a stay-at-home-mom, I do have the freedom to go to protests while my kids are at school. No one pays me, although I’ll admit, some income for something I am going to do anyway would be nice!

On any given day we feel action needs to be taken, I have a whole network of friends around Houston who will take their kids to a Senator’s office or stop by a coffee shop to write postcards. I also have friends with flexible schedules or who work unconventional hours in every sector from sales to academia. For many, going to to Woman’s March in Washington or Austin was not spontaneous. It took coordination with spouses, travel arrangements, and financial situations in to consideration. Does planning or not planning lessen the impact? I don’t truly understand what spontaneity has to do with caring about justice?

And yes, I know a mom from my kids’ school and her teenage daughter, as well as a handful of childless neighbors, were able to head to IAH on a moment’s notice when they heard through a grapevine that like-minded people would be there defending the rights of other humans. We don’t do this because we are paid or have nothing else to do. We do this because we are Americans, believers in our Constitution, and care about others. I’m sorry if Jeff wants us to go back to complaining around our kitchen tables or office water coolers, but we’re not backing down. We will persist.